TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The man responsible for a violent night of multiple hit-and-run crashes across Western New York has pleaded guilty to a series of felony charges.
Mark Whalen, 32, of Hamburg, admitted in court to causing seven separate car crashes on the night of November 11, 2024, spanning several jurisdictions including Evans, Hamburg, Buffalo, Kenmore, Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, and the City of Tonawanda.
During the spree, Whalen fatally struck 40-year-old Terrence Wyatt, who was crossing Delaware Street in Tonawanda. Whalen fled the scene of the fatal incident and later carjacked a pickup truck in North Tonawanda to continue his flight from law enforcement.
According to Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, Whalen pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Manslaughter
Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death
Grand Larceny
Reckless Driving
Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle
Seven counts of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Property Damage
Whalen now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2025.
The case drew widespread attention due to the chaos and destruction caused over multiple jurisdictions in a single evening.
